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Sixth Gr | Seventh Gr | Eighth Gr | Special Ed | Hawaiian Immersion |Library | Progress | Discipline SPECIAL EDUCATIONSpecial Education is specially designed instruction to meet the unique learning needs of students who require Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Special education services may be delivered in a variety of settings based on the student’s needs. The Special Education Program at Kalama Intermediate runs from 6th grade to 8th grade.
Special education also includes related services. Related services are transportation and developmental, corrective, and supportive services that are required to assist a child with a disability in benefiting from special education. These related services include, but are not limited to speech-language therapy, audiology, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, counseling services, and parent counseling and education. All services are provided at no cost to parents. Why......are special education services provided?The State of Hawaii has a commitment to meet the needs of students with disabilities. In 1975, Public Law 94-142, Education for the Handicapped Act (EHA), was passed by Congress. This federal law guarantees a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to all students. Therefore, each state offers a continuum of services for children who are determined eligible for special education and related services. In addition to the provision of services for children, the law also guarantees the right of due process to all children and families. The EHA Amendments of 1990 (P.L. 101- 476) renamed the statute as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA was most recently amended in 1997. In Hawaii, the document that provides the regulations for implementing the IDEA is Title 8, Chapter 56 of the Hawaii Administrative Rules. Who......is eligible to receive special education?Any child who resides in Hawaii, who is between the ages of 3 and 20 and has met the eligibility criteria may receive special education services. The eligibility criteria for the following disability areas will be reviewed when eligibility for special education is considered:
In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria for one of these disability areas, the child must also demonstrate a need for special education. A child may demonstrate a need for special education if his/her educational needs cannot be met in the regular education classroom setting with modifications and adjustments to the curriculum. How…... can a child be evaluated for special education services?If you suspect that your child may have a disability and may require special education services, you may request an evaluation at your child’s home school or at any public school. If your child is between the ages of 3 and 5, an evaluation may be requested at your home school. A child who is suspected of having a disability is entitled to an appropriate comprehensive evaluation to determine whether the child is eligible for special education and related services. The evaluation will determine the nature and extent of the child’s needs. Evaluations are made up of separate assessments that cover all areas related to the suspected disability. These can include, where appropriate, health, vision, hearing, social and emotional status, general intelligence, academic performance, communication skills and motor abilities. When......may a child begin receiving special education and related services?A child is eligible to receive special education and related services between the ages of 3 and 20 after meeting the eligibility criteria for one of the disability areas. There are timelines that guide the evaluation and placement process. Briefly, a school has 20 days to process an evaluation request and respond to the requester, in writing, as to the status of the request. The department shall ensure that within a reasonable period of time (usually 60 days) following the receipt of parental consent to the initial assessment, special education and related services are made available to the student in accordance with an IEP. Following the eligibility determination, the school has 30 days to meet with parents and review the data that has been collected on the child, and develop the IEP. After parental consent, placement occurs for special education and related services as soon as possible. Where......will special education services be delivered?Appropriate special education and related services are determined at an IEP team meeting and are based on the child’s needs. The participants at this conference will work as a team to determine jointly what the needs of the child are, how they can be met and where the services will be delivered. Participants in the meeting must include the school principal or designee, parents, child (if appropriate), teachers, related services personnel, and persons knowledgeable of the student. The amount of time in regular education and special education will be determined through the IEP process. Adaptations and modifications to the regular education curriculum will be made to meet the child’s needs. If the child’s needs cannot be met in the regular classroom setting with the use of supplementary aids and services, the student may require instruction in a special education classroom setting. Upon completion of the IEP, a placement determination will be made. Children will attend the school they would attend if they had not been identified as having a disability unless their specific needs cannot be met at the home school. But what if...If parents do not agree with the identification, evaluation, program and/or placement for a student, what happens? Parents and students are protected by procedural safeguards and will be informed of their rights at identified points throughout the process. Parents will be informed of their procedural safeguards when an evaluation is requested, whenever they are notified of an IEP meeting, whenever they receive a prior written notice, and when a due process hearing request is filed. If parents are not in agreement with the findings and recommendations of the Department of Education, they are entitled to request an administrative hearing at any point in the process. The Department of Education has as its main goal the provision of quality educational programs for all children. Parents and professionals must work together to ensure that the child is provided with a program that is both appropriate and beneficial. FOR MORE INFORMATION:Special Education Services Branch
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